Redecorating Your Bachelor Pad

5 Basic Ways To Make Your Bachelor Pad Better

The bachelor pad has long been synonymous with tiny living quarters, disorder and clutter. Certainly, the financial obstacles that exist for most young bachelors make high-style living somewhat of a challenge. But don't let a lack of space hinder your creativity; small rooms can be big on design without undergoing an entire decorating overhaul.

Here's how you can make your pad a little more pleasing to the eye without going through too much trouble.

Repaint

One easy way to alter the appearance of your apartment is by painting. Start off by selecting a light color (often, people make the mistake of painting with dark colors, which actually make a room look smaller). Light colors give the illusion of a larger living space and brighten up a room. If you have some time and money to invest, opt for a different color to paint your ceiling; go one to two shades lighter than the color of your walls. This will give the illusion of a higher ceiling and make your living space seem larger as well. If you are unsure, don't hesitate to ask friends and professionals for their opinions.

Acrylic paints are relatively inexpensive, easy to apply and don't smell, making them the perfect choice. Make sure, however, to use a medium- to high-gloss finish, such as a pearl finish, for the kitchen; it's easy to clean and resists the elements and climate of a kitchen. To speed up the painting process at no more than the price of pizza and beer, invite your buddies over for a weekend of painting.

You may want to add a finishing touch to your newly painted walls and ceiling. Home renovation centers offer inexpensive pre-painted Styrofoam moldings to crown a ceiling. A high-gloss white molding will not only hide any imperfections in your paint job, but will also amplify the effect of a lighter colored ceiling and bring warmth to a room.

Maximize storage space

Any good designer would say that if an item serves no purpose, it should be hidden from view. This is an ideal scenario for someone with a lot of storage space, but the reality is that small apartments often lack this luxury. With this in mind, it is essential that your closet be clean and organized.

Retailers like Ikea, Target and Walmart sell closet organizers that are low in cost and high in design. Not only will your clothing look better when you take it out of the closet, but you'll have much more storage space — as much as 50%. Before you head out to buy one, take a look at your closet and assess your needs; you may not want to compromise too much hanging space if the bulk of your clothing needs to be hung.

A little common sense and an hour or two of spring cleaning will give you the extra room needed for the odds and ends that should be stored away.